Astronaut Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, a native of Montclair, New Jersey, was the second man to stand on the surface of the moon. The visor in his helmet shows a reflection of
Astronaut Neil Armstrong (first man on the moon), taking this picture as well as one footpad of the Lunar Module Eagle and the United States flag planted next to it.

Soar into space in the New Jersey State Museum's Planetarium! The Planetarium regularly premiers new and exciting shows for a variety of ages that feature state-of-the-art Full DomeVideo.
The Museum's spacious, specially-designed reclining seats easily accommodate groups of up to 140, while dynamic and knowledgeable show presenters take the visitor zooming through the
solar system with customized star talks.

The Planetarium offers both traditional sky and full-spectrum laser programs. Made possible by the generous support of the Prudential Foundation.

PLEASE NOTE: Planetarium shows are offered to the public on Weekends only during the school year. Weekday shows are held by reservation for school or community groups. During the summer months,
winter break, and spring break there are special weekday shows offered to the public. Please check the current schedule for detailed public showtimes.

Bring your child to the Planetarium for their birthday and receive a free gift! Just tell the box office when buying tickets and give them the birthday child’s first name. They will give your child the free gift and the Planetarium will announce the birthday before the show!

Happy Birthday from the New Jersey State Museum!
If you call 3 or more business days in advance, the Planetarium will also add a banner to the dome to celebrate! To add the banner contact Planetarium Technician William Murray at 609-826-3940 or William.murray@sos.nj.gov

Every star has a story. Some are as old as time, faint and almost forgotten. Others burn bright and end their lives in powerful explosions. New stars are created every day, born of vast clouds of gas and dust. Stars release the energy that powers the Universe. Journey to the furthest reaches of our galaxy and experience the awesome beauty and destructive power of Stars!

Little Star, an average yellow star, is in search of planets of his own to protect & warm. Along the way, he meets other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars combine to form star clusters and galaxies. Eventually, Little Star finds his planets. Each planet is introduced to audiences with basic information about our Solar System. For younger audiences.

From the launch of the first artificial satellite Sputnik, to the magnificent lunar landings and privately operated space flights. Be immersed and overwhelmed with this most accurate historic reconstruction of Man’s first steps into space. Who were these men and women that took part in these death defying endeavors? Witness their drive, their passion, and their perseverance to explore, in Dawn of the Space Age. Suitable for general audiences.

Narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Dark Universe celebrates a new age of cosmic discovery as well as its deepest mysteries. Dark Universe features spectacular scenes of recent spacecraft, such as the Galileo probe’s breathtaking plunge into Jupiter’s atmosphere, the most accurate visualizations ever produced, such as a Milky Way galaxy spangled with exploding supernovas, and novel renderings of hotly discussed phenomena like dark matter. General audiences & older children.

Little Star, an average yellow star, is in search of planets of his own to protect & warm. Along the way, he meets other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars combine to form star clusters and galaxies. Eventually, Little Star finds his planets. Each planet is introduced to audiences with basic information about our Solar System. For younger audiences.

Every star has a story. Some are as old as time, faint and almost forgotten. Others burn bright and end their lives in powerful explosions. New stars are created every day, born of vast clouds of gas and dust. Stars release the energy that powers the Universe. Journey to the furthest reaches of our galaxy and experience the awesome beauty and destructive power of Stars!

Narrated by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Dark Universe celebrates a new age of cosmic discovery as well as its deepest mysteries. Dark Universe features spectacular scenes of recent spacecraft, such as the Galileo probe’s breathtaking plunge into Jupiter’s atmosphere, the most accurate visualizations ever produced, such as a Milky Way galaxy spangled with exploding supernovas, and novel renderings of hotly discussed phenomena like dark matter. General audiences & older children.